Rallies, seminars held to mark Kashmir Day

LAHORE: The Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed in the city with a warning to the Indian government to stop wrongdoings in Kashmir.The US, OIC and UN were urged to play their role for the solution of this longstanding dispute in accordance with the United Nations resolutions. The day was marked with Kashmir solidarity rallies, seminars, demonstrations, vigils and special prayers for the peace and prosperity of Kashmiri people. Jamaatud Dawa (JD) took out a rally from Masjid Qadsia, Chauburji to Masjid-e-Shuhda on The Mall. Addressing the concluding ceremony JD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed blamed India for terrorist activities in Pakistan. He said Taliban have categorically denied any involvement in recent bomb blasts in the country. “The government needs to conduct enquiry and fix responsibility, if an investigation is conducted I believe the reality would unveil,” he remarked. He linked the terrorist activities in Pakistan to Indian presence and involvement in Afghanistan. He said if today the US stops patronising India and if Indian bases in Afghanistan are closed, terrorism-related issues in Pakistan would be resolved. Hafiz Saeed asked Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif to continue talks with India, saying his organisation was not against talks, however, the government must not compromise over the Kashmir cause. Participants of the rally made a human chain and observed one-minute silence to express sympathy and solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiris. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Liaquat Baloch said it was strange that the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) was not playing its required role to help resolve Kashmir issue. He urged the government to take up this issue seriously without wasting more time. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a seminar at the Hamdard Centre under the leadership of PTI Punjab President Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhry. Former foreign minister and head of PTI Kashmir Committee Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri attended the event. They expressed their party’s resolve to take up Kashmir issue on all forums, including OIC, US and UN.The Insaf Youth Wing (IYW) Lahore organised a vigil at the Liberty roundabout to show solidarity with the Kashmiris. Also, the Youth Energetic Society (YES) held a rally at LibertySsquare. The Tanzeem Khidmat-e-Khalq set up a camp outside the Punjab Assembly where national anthem and national songs were played, and citizens were urged to attend rallies in support of the people of Indian-held Kashmir.